General Cycling Discussion - Surgery=No riding

As some of you guys may know, (I don't really publicize it), I ride essentially one-handed due to a motorcycle accident. The accident tore a nerve group called the brachial plexus in my left shoulder and paralyzed most of my left shoulder, chest, arm and hand. This was awhile ago (1993) and some surgery after the accident and alot of work in the gym gave me back the ability to bend my elbow. After a few years of experimenting I developed some effective mods to my roadbike and started riding again.

Anyways, surgeons in Houston, TX think that more improvement is possible even after all of this time so last week I underwent what will be the first of 2 surgeries that might maybe let me close my hand again as well as improvements above. This was supposed to be the minor operation of the 2 and I can say that already I feel stronger in my lat. muscles than I had before and even better am getting some twinges out of my tricep which is all good. Unfortunately, I can't do anything with this yet since they've got me in some ungodly braces that make me look/feel like Robocop. I'm also off my bike. It's only until mid-August but right now that seems a long time away.

This will pass but my Basso and Colnago are missing their summer and I feel sorta frustrated.

:beer:

Hope all goes well for you and that you have a speedy recovery. Which hospital are you going to -- one in the Texas Medical Center maybe?

Good luck with the recovery, and the next operation. It goes to show that not all is lost with the advances in surgical techniques. Don't fret too much about being off the bikes... in a year's time, the break will seem like only seconds.

R

hey... that is good news.. i mean about your arm improvement. look at the bright side.. you get your arm back and you totally blast the hills in florida... wait... did i say hills in florida? jk.
get better fast! :)

Best wishes on a recovery that has you back stronger than expected.

I know we have some of the best orthopedic hospitals in the country here in Houston.

Are your surgeries at Texas Orthopedic or Baylor (Methodist / St. Lukes)?

Do you have to go through PT / OT now?

Yes it's a short time to pay if it works. Good Luck!
Joe

Sounds like you're doing the right thing.

Good luck Walter.

Fantastic, Walter!

Keep us informed of the progress!

Thanks for the support.

For those who asked; Yes the surgeons are out of Baylor U. and the operation(s) were/will be at Methodist Hospital.

No, no hills in Fla but when younger I used to enjoy getting out of the saddle for a good sprint. Hard to do now, hopefully with some tricep recovery I'll be able to again soon.

Btw injuries like mine are rare but not unheard of and there are other reasons, unfortunately, for losing the lose of an arm. If any of you know of/hear of someone in a similar situation who wants to get on a bike please have him/her get in touch with me. It took a couple of years but I've got my bike mods down to where things work pretty smoothly with either a retro-friction or modern Ergo shifting set-up. I'll give pics and equipment sources to any who ask.
:beer:

I'll have you on my prayer list, good luck.

Best wishes, Walter. If Christopher Reeve is able to feel and move a bit, there is hope for other nerve injury cases, as well.

John, there is always hope. I keep up with the Reeves Project periodically. While I got tired of hearing sentences that begin with "You're lucky........." years ago I do realize that I was lucky that I hit the guardrail with my shoulder and didn't involve the spine.

Thank you Terminator, much appreciated.

Good luck, Walter. Let us all know how it works out! :)

I remember reading of a guy in Bradford between the wars, I think, who had had the lower part of his right arm amputated. He had a sort of socket thing attached to his handlebars, and he put the stump in that and off he went. He held, as I recall, though I am prepared to be corrected, all sorts of UK timetrial records which he thus collected. Of course, they breed them tough in Yorkshire...

Best wishes on your recovery. Stay strong!